Trump praises labor secretary accused of illegally concealing sex offender's plea
By Kathryn Watson
/ CBS News
President Trump on Friday praised Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, whom a federal judge says broke the law when he concealed the plea agreement of a wealthy, well-connected sex offender during his days as a prosecutor.
A federal judge ruled Thursday that Acosta and other federal prosecutors broke the law by concealing a plea agreement from more than 30 underage women who were sexually abused by wealthy New York hedge fund manager and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Federal judge Kenneth A. Marra gave federal prosecutors 15 days to speak with Epstein's alleged victims and their attorneys to determine a settlement.
Mr. Trump claimed he didn't know much about the case specifically, but praised Acosta's job as labor secretary.
"I really don't know too much about it," the president said. "I know he's done a great job as labor secretary and that seems like a long time ago, but I know he's been a fantastic labor secretary, but that's all I can really tell you."
Mr. Trump wasn't the only one in his administration to praise Acosta on Friday, with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson lauding the labor secretary. Carson told Fox Business Friday morning that Acosta, "is a man of integrity and caring and I think we just need to see how that all plays out."
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders called the case "very complicated," and "something we're certainly looking into." She would not say whether the president still has confidence in Acosta.
House Democrats have begun calling on the president to fire Acosta.
First published on February 22, 2019 / 5:48 PM
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Kathryn Watson
Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital.
American, Singapore Airlines have cameras in seat backs
Newer entertainment systems on some American Airlines and Singapore Airlines planes can monitor passengers
0M ago 
Indiana man charged in Muslim man's road rage shooting death
Dustin Passarelli, 33, has been charged in the road rage shooting death of Zahra Ayoubi
3M ago 
Trump admin proposes cutting millions from Planned Parenthood
It’s the most concrete step that the administration has taken to limit abortion access since President Trump’s inauguration
5M ago 
Trump praises labor secretary accused of concealing sex offender's plea
President Trump said he didn't know much about the case, but praised Labor Secretary Alex Acosta's work
13M ago 
Manafort sentencing memo is expected Friday
A judge found earlier this month that Manafort lied to investigators after he had agreed to cooperate
16M ago 
Trump admin proposes cutting millions from Planned Parenthood
It’s the most concrete step that the administration has taken to limit abortion access since President Trump’s inauguration
5M ago
Trump praises labor secretary accused of concealing sex offender's plea
President Trump said he didn't know much about the case, but praised Labor Secretary Alex Acosta's work
13M ago
Manafort sentencing memo is expected Friday
A judge found earlier this month that Manafort lied to investigators after he had agreed to cooperate
16M ago 
Several hundred troops to remain in Syria
The Trump administration is not yet announcing the defeat of the caliphate, and there is no timeline for withdrawing troops
24M ago 
Trump meets with Chinese vice premier
The U.S. is running up against a March 1 deadline for trade talks
3H ago 
Several hundred troops to remain in Syria
The Trump administration is not yet announcing the defeat of the caliphate, and there is no timeline for withdrawing troops
24M ago 
Organizers want breakdancing at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Will boomboxes be considered sports equipment at the Summer Games?
53M ago 
Here's who has been charged in Robert Mueller's probe
Mueller's report to Attorney General William Barr is expected sometime after next week
3H ago 
Woman dies after eating at Michelin-starred restaurant
One woman died and 28 other diners have fallen ill after eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Valencia, Spain
4H ago 
Father of ISIS bride sues to get U.S. to let her come back
Suit argues Hoda Muthana is an American citizen and should be allowed to return but U.S. says she's not
6H ago 
Here's how to watch the 91st Academy Awards
All of Hollywood's elite will descend on LA's Dolby Theatre Sunday night for the biggest cinema awards event of the year
2H ago 
R. Kelly charged with criminal sexual abuse in Illinois
The singer has faced allegations of sexual misconduct with underage girls for decades and has denied them
3H ago 
"Space Jam 2" release date revealed
The premiere date may have been chosen to pay homage to both the original "Space Jam" star – and the new one
6H ago 
Afrofuturism gains momentum as artists reclaim black history
Social, cultural and political philosophy dating back to the 1950s is resurging with popularity of films like "Black Panther" and works of author Tomi Adeyemi and artist Janelle Monáe
6H ago 
Jussie Smollett's character cut from "Empire" episodes
"The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us," executive producers said in a statement
6H ago
American, Singapore Airlines have cameras in seat backs
Newer entertainment systems on some American Airlines and Singapore Airlines planes can monitor passengers
0M ago 
Facebook reportedly received users' sensitive health data from apps: "It’s incredibly dishonest"
Health information such as heart rates and pregnancy status was sent from apps without consumer consent
16M ago 
Virgin Galactic reaches edge of space again in push to launch paying passengers
The SpaceShipTwo rocketplane was carried aloft from the Mojave Air & Space Port north of Los Angeles
1H ago 
Japanese space probe lands on far-off asteroid to get samples
Scientists say the samples could provide clues about the origin of the solar system and of life on Earth
13H ago 
SpaceX launches rocket carrying privately funded Israeli moon lander
If successful, the $100M mission will put Israel in an exclusive club, joining the U.S., Soviet Union/Russia and China as only the fourth nation in space history to pull off a powered landing on the moon
20H ago 
Company may have leaked carcinogen into air for years
Breathing in high concentrations of the chemical TCE has been linked to kidney cancer, liver cancer and lymphoma
59M ago 
Child dies a day after flu diagnosis
41 children have died from flu-related causes this flu season, including a fourth-grader who died just one day after being diagnosed
3H ago
Woman dies after eating at Michelin-starred restaurant
One woman died and 28 other diners have fallen ill after eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Valencia, Spain
4H ago 
FDA warns about potentially harmful dietary supplements
Americans spent more than $40 billion on supplements last year, with 3 out of 4 people regularly taking them
4H ago 
"Heartless": Hospital and doctor accused of giving lethal doses of fentanyl
CBS News spoke with five people who said their family members died while under Dr. William Husel's care at Mount Carmel Hospital
10H ago
American, Singapore Airlines have cameras in seat backs
Newer entertainment systems on some American Airlines and Singapore Airlines planes can monitor passengers
0M ago
Facebook reportedly received users' sensitive health data from apps: "It’s incredibly dishonest"
Health information such as heart rates and pregnancy status was sent from apps without consumer consent
16M ago 
Kraft Heinz sees $16 billion in market value vanish
Wall Street analysts now question wisdom of 2015 Warren Buffett-steered merger that created packaged-food conglomerate
28M ago 
One winner from tax overhaul: America's banks
Profits at U.S. financial institutions soared 44 percent to record highs last year, largely due to changes in tax law
5H ago 
Blame Amazon: Stamps.com shares plunge 50 percent
The company said it no longer wanted an exclusive deal with the U.S. Postal Service due to Amazon's entry into shipping
5H ago 
Indiana man charged in Muslim man's road rage shooting death
Dustin Passarelli, 33, has been charged in the road rage shooting death of Zahra Ayoubi
3M ago
R. Kelly charged with criminal sexual abuse in Illinois
The singer has faced allegations of sexual misconduct with underage girls for decades and has denied them
3H ago 
Parents of 13 kids plead guilty in "house of horrors" case
David and Louise Turpin shackled some of their 13 children to beds and starved them in horrific captivity case
4H ago 
Patriots owner Robert Kraft charged with soliciting prostitution
"We're as equally stunned as anyone else," police said
5H ago 
El Chapo's sons charged with drug trafficking
Joaquin Guzman Lopez, 34, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 28, allegedly conspired to send cocaine and other drugs into the U.S.
22H ago Original Article
